Accrington Stanley vs Walsall; Sky Bet League One
Accrington Stanley vs Walsall. Sky Bet League One.
Wham StadiumAttendance2,662.
Accrington Stanley 2
- R Sykes (11th minute, 69th minute)
Walsall 1
- N Devlin (33rd minute)
- J Gordon (sent off 84th minute)
Accrington vs Walsall preview
Friday 12 April 2019 14:35, UK
Accrington boss John Coleman has a fully-fit squad to choose from for his side's Sky Bet League One relegation battle at home to second-bottom Walsall.
Coleman, though, may choose to rotate following a run of just one league win from his side's last 10 matches that has put them 17th and just two points above the drop zone.
Accrington suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rochdale at the Crown Ground last time out and are looking for a much-needed result with just six points between the clubs currently 13th and 23rd in the table. Coleman has no suspensions to worry about or injury concerns despite striker Billy Kee being substituted after 63 minutes in the midweek loss to Dale.
Interim Walsall manager Martin O'Connor also has a tough task at hand ahead of the season run-in as he takes charge of his first game following the sacking of Dean Keates on Saturday. The Saddlers sit two points from safety following five-straight defeats ahead of the remaining five games of the season - with four of those fixtures against teams also battling against relegation.
Midfielder Maz Kouhyar (knee) remains sidelined for the rest of the season, while Andy Cook, who scored in last weekend's 3-1 loss to Oxford, boosted his claims for another start after two games on the bench following suspension. Winger Matt Jarvis could return to the squad after an ankle injury which has kept him out since the start of March.
Opta stats
Accrington Stanley have hosted Walsall on just one occasion in the Football League, a 2-1 victory for the Saddlers in October 2006.
Accrington Stanley have won both of their last two games against Walsall in all competitions - a 2-1 League Cup first round win in August 2009 and a 1-0 win in the reverse league fixture in September this season.
Accrington Stanley have picked up just one point from their last five league games (D1 L4), scoring just once in their last four.
Walsall have lost each of their last five league games, they haven't lost six or more in a row since their worst ever Football League run between October 1988 and February 1989 (15).
Walsall have conceded 26 goals from set-piece situations in League One this season; more than any other side in the division).
Prutton's prediction
There was a point in the season where Accrington had half an eye on a top-six push, but their form has capitulated recently and they are right in the thick of the relegation battle.
Walsall became the latest manager near the bottom to sack their manager this week, as they desperately look for a way out of the bottom four. This won't be a pretty game, but I think Accrington will sneak it at home.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)